Downing Street strongly criticized Nigel Farage’s immigration proposals as unrealistic, unworkable, and lacking funding, accusing Reform UK of promoting division. Keir Starmer’s press secretary stated that Reform UK’s new plan to eliminate the primary pathway to British citizenship for migrants demonstrates a lack of interest in addressing the country’s challenges effectively. The proposal to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) could jeopardize the legal settlement status of tens of thousands of individuals residing in the UK.
Recent developments have raised doubts about the feasibility of Reform UK’s immigration plans, with the Centre for Policies think tank disavowing the claim that the proposal would save taxpayers £234 billion, questioning the accuracy of Reform’s financial projections.
Nigel Farage’s declaration of significant cuts to welfare spending exclusively for UK citizens was contradicted by Reform’s Zia Yusuf, who clarified that the policy would not affect individuals under the post-Brexit EU settlement scheme, including most foreign Universal Credit claimants.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson criticized Farage for consistently putting forward impractical and unfunded proposals, emphasizing Reform’s tendency to sow division rather than address national issues constructively. The government sees a choice between national renewal and the divisive path advocated by Reform.
Currently, migrants can apply for ILR after residing in the UK for five years, but Reform UK aims to require visa renewal every five years, imposing stricter criteria such as higher income thresholds and language proficiency. The proposal includes extending the residency requirement to seven years, tightening rules on family reunification, and denying access to welfare benefits.
Despite claims by Farage and Reform that the plan would save over £230 billion, questions have been raised about the validity of these figures, particularly after the Centre of Policy Studies distanced itself from the disputed fiscal data used in the calculations.
A Labour source criticized Farage’s announcement as lacking substance, highlighting the absence of a credible plan from Reform UK. Chancellor Rachel Reeves noted that the claimed cost savings of the proposal have already begun to unravel, emphasizing the government’s efforts to address illegal migration and reform the welfare system to reduce public spending.
Reform UK defended its proposal, suggesting that the actual fiscal impact could exceed current estimates due to higher ILR uptake rates among certain migrant groups. The party argued that the financial implications of the plan are underestimated and could be significantly higher than initially projected.